More For from E-Board

Yesterday the Chron E-Board endorsed Bill Frazer for Controller.  Commentary is not really surprised considering the stories the Chron has written in the past about Controller Ron Green.

Check out the Frazer endorsement here.

On Saturday the Chron E-Board endorsed Anthony Robinson for H-Town City Council District D.  That was kind of surprising.

Here is the Robinson endorsement.

Name the stadium the Pirates called home from 1909 – 1970?

Yesterday my friend Bill King wrote about doing away with H-Town Mayoral, Controller, and City Council term limits because the current governance structure doesn’t encourage council to deal with long term financial issues.   Blah, blah, blah…….   I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  If you want to do away with term limits get out there and put together a serious grass roots campaign and get signatures on a petition.

Here is Bill’s column,

Also yesterday H-Town CM C.O. Bradford and HCC Trustee Carroll Robinson co-wrote an Op-Ed calling for a City Charter Review Commission to look at how city government is run.  They want the Commission appointed right after the election so they can have recommendations ready to the November 2014 election.  I don’t know about that.  I think we need to have a good discussion first as to why we need a Review Commission.  I am also thinking that Trustee Robinson should maybe focus on putting together an HCC Review Commission.

http://www.chron.com/opinion/outlook/article/Bradford-Robinson-Houston-s-governance-process-4872142.php

The “SNL” spoof Saturday night on Speaker Boehner, Michelle Bachman, and the GOP federal government shutdown was deservedly brutal. 

Commentary was impressed by “SNL” guest host and musical act Miley Cyrus’ performance.  She is an entertainer for sure and currently owns the number one song on the charts.

I don’t think the Texans will go 13-3.  We are definitely not prime time material. 

Forbes Field of course is where the Pirates played from 1909 – 1970.

No that wasn’t the ‘Stros playing in Candlestick last night.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston City Hall,Houston City Council Elections,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Houston Elections

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UNNECESSARY REMOVAL

In Saturday’s Chron there were punches being thrown in the Mayoral contest.  I think that is going to be the norm over the next few weeks so don’t even bother to stay tuned.

Check out Kuffer’s interview of HISD Board Prez Anna Eastman here.

Kuffer also mentions that Kim Ogg will be running for Harris County DA as a Dem. I am all in for that and think she will be an outstanding candidate.

Check it out here.

As expected the Chron E-Board endorsed saving the Dome.

Check it out here.

The ‘Stros set the MLB record for most strikeouts in a season.  Guess how many?

The ‘Stros announced yesterday that our two preseason games at The Yard next season will be against Rojos del Aguila from Veracruz from the Mexican Baseball League.  I’m OK with that.  We have had puny crowds the last few seasons for the two exhibition games.  I’m thinking folks of the Mexican persuasion will show up at The Yard to check out the games.  We should have good crowds.

A couple of weeks or so ago I got an anonymous email about the letter to District I candidate Ben Mendez from Rev. Bill Lawson letting Mendez know  that Lawson was pulling his support from Mendez’s campaign.  It turned out the letter was true.  The same anonymous source sent me and others an email Saturday with a copy of a letter from former District I council member Ben Reyes to Mendez telling Mendez to stop saying that Reyes is supporting Mendez.  We will see if the Reyes letter is genuine.

Commentary has heard that Reyes is playing in a few local campaigns this campaign season.

Commentary watched Sen. Ted Cruz yesterday lamely try to put the government shutdown blame on Majority Leader Harry Reid.  Nobody’s buying it.

Over 100,000 showed up for the weekend with Yankees.  We got to see Andy Pettitte pitch a complete game Saturday night.  We got an apology from Mariano Rivera yesterday saying he wanted his last time on the mound to be at Yankee Stadium.  Some folks booed The Rocket.  The ‘Stros set the strikeout record yesterday, and yesterday’s game went into extra innings.  We got swept and a lot of Yankee fans were there.

Saturday night I tweeted this:

Got run out of my seats for interfering with ball hit down the line. #MLBReplay.

Here is what happened.  Robinson Cano smashed one down the right field line.  I thought it hit foul and I thought the umpire called it foul.  I reached over hoping to snag my seventh of the year. It zipped in and out of my lid.  The ball was fair and the ump called interference so the security folks escorted me out of my seat.  I was met on the concourse by six or seven security folks and they wrote me up on some MLB form so now I’m on some sort of MLB offenders data base. 

I was then escorted by a security guy to the fan accommodations booth where I was handed off to another security pair. After a few awkward seconds they asked me what I there for.  I told them that I was there to pick up my two Insperity Club tickets for Sunday’s game.  They looked perplexed and I walked off.  What a joke!

Yesterday when I showed up one of the security guys that wasn’t involved Saturday night told me that the play was reviewed after the game and it turns out that the Yankee fan sitting next to me reached over me and touched the ball first so there was no reason for me to be removed.  Of course they didn’t offer to apologize.

The ‘Stros now own the MLB strikeout record of course with 1,535 Ks thanks in large part to Chris Carter 212.

Well we ended the miserable season on a 15 game losing streak.  It was awful, awful, awful!   They better get them some better players.  I feel good about our future starting rotation but we need better bullpen arms.  I don’t feel so good about the position players.  Other than Jason Castro and Jose Altuve, I really can’t tell you who deserves to be in MLB.  We still have a long way to go.

I was presented with a cool looking baseball bat yesterday for being a loyal fan.  I am. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Elections,Houston Politics,Anna Eastman Campaign,Texas Politics

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The Tea Party Twerker

You have to hand it to U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz for having stones.  He gets to move up quite a few slots on the GOP 2016 ladder with his talkathon.  He’s twerking the GOP establishment and loving every minute.  Commentary doesn’t agree with any of Sen. Cruz’s position but I will say that his act is the real deal.  In the process he’s making his colleague, Sen. John Cornyn, look like a real wuss. 

Only four ‘Stros have 100 plus base hits this season.  Name the four?

Ben Hall will be airing attack ads against The Mayor starting today.  I don’t know how long the ads will air and I don’t know how much they are spending on the ad buy.  I also don’t know if the ads will be effective.

Check it out here.

Will the ‘Stros be better next season?  I don’t know.  I really don’t know.  The team is high on Jonathan Villar even though he does not have a whole lot between his ears.  What do they say about part of the game being mental?  Earlier in the season the Skipper was high on Chris Carter if he could only cut down on striking out – not gonna happen.

You can place the 108 losses to date on the Crane-Luhnow strategy.  They thunk it up or should I say stunk it up.

KC is now out of the playoff hunt.  Cinncy can’t win the NL Central and San Luis can if they win one of their last three or the Pirates lose one of their last three.  Thanks to the Crane-Luhnow strategy the Rangers are hanging in.

Jose Altuve (175), Matt Dominguez (130), Jason Castro (120), and Chris Carter (112) of course are the only ‘Stros with 100 plus base hits.

The ‘Stros are expecting 90,000 plus for this weekend’s series against the Yankees that means nothing. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Mayoral Race,Mayor Annisse Parker,Ben Hall,Houston Politics,Houston Elections,Ted CruzHouston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Politics

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On the Kuff

Kuffer asked District I candidate Ben Mendez who he was supporting in the Mayoral contest and Mendez said he was staying out of it.  Of course, Mendez cast his vote for Ben Hall at the Tejano Dems endorsement meeting last month.

This ought to be easy.  Name the MLB team with the most dingers smacked this season?

Gus Wortham Golf Course is located off of Wayside and Lawndale and is owned by the City and is one of four golf courses inside of the loop.   Three of the four are City golf courses.  Commentary doesn’t play golf but I have been told that Wortham isn’t in the best of shape.  I have also been told that it loses money.

There is group out there that has been making the rounds talking to neighborhoods around Wortham about converting the golf course into botanical gardens and maybe leaving a nine-hole golf course. 

Yesterday a few folks showed up at the H-Town City Council meeting to voice their opposition to the botanical garden idea.  They want their golf course left alone.

To date, H-Town CM James Rodriguez and his office are the only ones to do any heavy lifting to raise money toward renovating the golf course. 

It is going to take a lot more community support to get Wortham into better shape.  It can’t keep losing money forever.

It will be interesting to see which way this narrative moves so stay tuned!

Those that made it out to The Yard last night got to see Chris Carter strike out for the 200^th time this season – drats!

They also got to see a bonehead base running gaffe by Jonathan Villar that made it to the “Today” show this morning.  It was a dumbarse play for sure.

Here is how  it ends.

The Houston Press today has a piece about the Texans owner being a big GOPer.

Here it is.

Of course it was Dem voters back in 1996 that supported the referendum that got Reliant built.  Let us eat cake!

B’More of course leads all MLB teams with 199 dingers.

Those that made it to The Yard last night also got to witness our 100^th loss.  Commentary tweeted 99 “Ls” with one on the way during the fourth inning.  The Chron tweeted 100 “Ls” this morning. 

Will we lose 100 next season?  I really don’t know.

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Houston Texans,Houston Politics,Houston Elections,Texas Politics,Council Member James Rodriguez,Houston City Hall

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Friday the What?

The Save the Dome Campaign is now called the New Dome Experience.  I can’t find their website though.  I wonder if the Texans and the Rodeo are on board. I haven’t seen their campaign signs or a push card.  Good luck and stay tuned!

H-Town CM Jerry Davis probably needs to take 20/10 to lunch sometime soon.  20/10 was heads up for sure last night as he helped Davis hold on to the Harris County Tejano Democrats endorsement.  Way to go 20/10.

Name the ‘Stro with the most fielding errors this season?

Adriana Tamez for HCC District 3 won the Harris County Tejano Democrats endorsement last night.  Way to go!

Let’s see now, Guv Dude is heading up to Maryland to steal some jobs and the Governor of Maryland is coming to the Lone Star State to take our money.  Who wins?

The Chron has a good front page article today headlined “The last loyal fan” about a ‘Stro fan at The Yard.  It is only available to subscribers or if you have a hard copy.  The article could be about a number of us diehards.  I can certainly relate.

HISD Board President Anna Eastman dropped by the Tejano Democrats meeting last night and showed me a cool photo on her phone of Anna and ‘Stro catcher Jason Castro and his wife Maris at Moreno Elementary.  The Castros were donating 3,300 books to the school.  The books had been collected at The Yard earlier this season.  Way to go Jason and Maris Castro!

The General has a piece today saying Bud Adams deserves a spot in the Football Hall of Fame.  I don’t have a problem with that.

MariGirl tweeted last night about ‘blanket bingo” at H-Town Downtown.  I got her ask her what is up with that.

Tags tweeted this today: Chris Carter is six strikeouts away from becoming only the fourth different player to strike out at least 200 times in a season.

That’s another reason to drop by The Yard this weekend. 

Third baseman Matt Dominguez of course leads the ‘Stros with 13 fielding miscues.

Another reason to drop by The Yard this weekend is dollar dogs tonight.

Another reason to drop by The Yard this weekend is being able to bring your pooch on Sunday.

The Yankees are hanging in there. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Anna Eastman Campaign,Adriana Tamez Campaign,Tejano Democrats,Houston Politics,Texas Politics

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Parker says city should pass anti-discrimination ordinance

That’s the headline for the Chron story today for subscribers only.  Here is the headline on the front page of the hard copy: Parker favors law to forbid gay bias.

Go get you a copy right now!

Here is how the Texas Tribune starts the story:

The gay rights debate that sparked a bitter fight in San Antonio this summer may soon be moving to Houston.

Officials in the state’s biggest city appear willing to follow the lead of San Antonio, which last week — after nearly a month of heated protests — approved an ordinance that added sexual orientation and gender identity to the city’s nondiscrimination policy.

Houston Mayor Annise Parker, who in 2009 became the first openly gay leader of a major U.S. city, told the Houston Chronicle that the vote in San Antonio "upped the ante."

"It is absolutely something we should do, and the majority of council members have publicly stated they are in support of a nondiscrimination ordinance," Parker said. "But this is an issue that requires all of council to be engaged and agree it is time to move it forward. When it happens, we will do that."

Here is from the Chron:

"We would have to either accommodate the prohibitions in the charter or, to effectuate it as San Antonio did, we would have to put an amendment on the ballot," (City Attorney Dan) Feldman said. "The cleanest thing would be to take it the voters."

Here is the Tribune article.

Name the MLB pitcher with the most innings pitched this season?

Bonus:  Name the ‘Stro pitcher with the most innings pitched this season?

Five years ago tonight we were Iked and 13 miserable days followed and the ‘Stros played two home games on the road and I lost a tree.

Back to the nondiscrimination ordinance.  Expect all the GOP statewide candidates to come to H-Town next year to make their right wing bones so to speak.  This will probably help the effort.  I think we can prevail if you ask me. Stay tuned!

Here is a reprint of what I put out back on July 23:

Twelve years ago and back in 2001, on the H-Town city ballot, Proposition Two read as follows:

SHALL THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF HOUSTON BE AMENDED TO DENY HEALTH CARE AND OTHER EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS TO SAME SEX DOMESTIC PARTNERS OF CITY EMPLOYEES AND TO ADDRESS OTHER MATTERS OF CITY EMPLOYMENT AND CONTRACTING PRACTTICES BASED ON SEXUAL ORIENTATION?

On election night of Tuesday, November 6, 2001, the scoreboard read FOR 130,310 (51%) and AGAINST 123,592 (49%).

Dave Wilson and crew got the measure on the ballot and prevailed.

According to the Chron’s quickie analysis, the following neighborhoods supported the ban:

Acres Home (50.9%), Cana/Navigation/Magnolia (51.1%), Clear Lake (59.6%), Denver Harbor (56.7%), Fifth Ward (53.5%), Hobby/Glenbrook Valley (52.2%), Kingwood (68.6%), Memorial Westchester (65.6%), Outer Westheimer (61.9%), Sagemont (64%), Spring Branch (61.8%), Tanglewood/River Oaks (57.2%), and Westbury (50.45).

The following neighborhoods opposed the ban:

Astrodome/OST (59.9%), Clark/South Main/ Windsor Village (56.3%), Garden Oaks/Oak Forest (52.6%), Heights (66.9%), Kashmere/Scenic Woods/ Settegast (52%), Meyerland (56.1%), Montrose (77.4%), Near North Side (51.4%), Rice/Braeswood (61.3%), Riverside/MacGregor (59%), Sunnyside/MLK (56.5%), and Third Ward (56.3%).

The Chron also did a quickie analysis by group:

For the ban: Low-income Anglo/Hispanic (55.8%), Upper-income Anglo (51.2%), and Mexican-American (51.5%).

Against the ban: Middle-income Anglo (52.2%), Low-income Black (51.7%), and Middle-income Black (59.5%).

I mention this because I have had my ear to the ground if you know what I mean. The electorate has changed somewhat over the past twelve years. You have to think we have become a little more forward thinking these days.

Clayton Kershaw of course of the Dodgers leads MLB with 216 innings pitched and Lucas Harrell leads the ‘Stros with 140 2/3 innings pitched. 

Commentary is rooting for the Yankees to keep winning and stay in contention so our season ending series will have some drama, significance, and meaning. Just think about having A-Roid in our crib and watching Mariano Rivera close out his regular season career.  It would be real special if we beat them and prevented them from making the playoffs. Who says it can’t happen?  We just swept the Mariners after all! 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Houston City Hall,Mayor Annisse Parker,Houston City Council,Gay Rights in Houston

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Be Mucho Moronic

Este es un column sobre un bike rack.

That’s how the Chron’s Lisa Falkenberg starts today’s front page column about a taxpayer funded bike rack on Navigation “in the shape of giant cursive letters spelling ‘"be mucho bueno."’

Aliana Acosta, daughter of my good friend Rafael Acosta (owner of Merida Restaurant on Navigation) complained about the “Spanglish” bike rack and the “poor use of the Spanish language.”

I get where she is coming from.

H-Town Council Member James Rodriguez has the best local quote of the week when asked about the rack:

"I think it’s very moronic. And that’s being nice.”

Diane Schenke, president of the Greater East End Management District, the entity that commissioned the rack, said this:

"It wasn’t intended to be a Spanish grammar test. It’s capturing the way people talk in the neighborhood."

Huh!

Here’s from Falkenberg on Schenke’s line:

But that’s the thing. I’ve never heard anybody use that phrase, not even a fellow Gringo. That annoying Tex-Mex menu at Lupe Tortilla – "Es preety goood!" – has more grammatical precision than this artwork.

If you ask me, el Greater East End Management Distrito be mucho estupido knuckleheads.

Commentary thinks maybe it is time to rethink their leadership.

Who leads the MLB today with runs scored for the season?

The Chron E-Board wants to mediate a session between Early to Rise and Hunker Down. Here is how they end their take today:

Before lawyering up, folks should try sitting across the table and talking things out. Might we recommend the Houston Chronicle editorial board table as a good place to start?

http://www.chron.com/opinion/editorials/article/Too-early-to-sue-4772485.php

I’m OK with that on the condition that I get to sit in and watch.

To the 40% that can watch ‘Stros games, did you know that CSN reporter Julia Morales is the daughter of 1996 Dem candidate for U.S. Senator Victor Morales? Well now you do!

Matt Carpenter of course of San Luis leads the bigs today with 100 runs scored for the season.

I’ll have a light lunch today to get ready for dollar dogs this evening at The Yard. They are also handing out 10,000 baseballs on the way out. The best part of the evening should be the ‘Stros honoring softball great and Olympian Cat Osterman.

I think I heard last night that we’re 16-28 in one run games which means we could easily be 28-16 in one run games. Oh, well!

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Houston Elections,Houston Politics,Texas Politics,Texas Elections,Houston City Hall,Houston Latino Politics,Houston East End

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The Line-up

The following is the unofficial line-up of candidates from the City of H-Town website for Mayor, City Council, and Controller.

With The Mayor having eight opponents, how do they avoid the big R – yes I’m saying it – runoff and campaigning during Thanksgiving?  Will they ‘splain to Commentary a non-run-off strategy.

Former City of H-Town department director and former HISD big shot Issa Dadoush who left HISD in a huff filed at the last minute against CM C.O. Bradford.  Dadoush lists a Pasadena address – huh!

Two Latino candidates are running in At-Large Three.  They are going to split the Latino vote for sure.

In Commentary’s opinion, Hunker Down made a mistake in rejecting the Early to Rise initiative.  It looks personal.   The Early to Rise folks early on forgot to brief Hunker Down so he felt dissed and decided to be against and now is saying NO to 85,000 plus signatures.   It will come back to bite him in the arse while he campaigns for a tax increase to save the Dome.  It is a bad move if you ask me. 

I really don’t have much to say about Larry Marshall not running for reelection over at HISD other than to say he can read the writing on the wall.

The ‘Stros had 4 dingers last night to put them at 132 for the season and tied for 14^th in MLB.  How many dingers did the ‘Stros have last season and where did we rank?

Here is the list of city candidates:

MAYOR

· Cook, Don — 7954 Glenheath, Houston, TX 77061, Phone: 713.705.5594, Email: zenblews@hotmail.com

· Dick, Eric — 4325 Tulsa Road, Houston, TX 77092, Phone: 832.429.2990, Email: ericdickformayor@gmail.com

· Douglas, Keryl Burgess — 5804 Bayou Bend Court, Houston, TX 77004, Phone: 713.819.9945, FAX: 713.589.6823, Email: keryl@keryldouglasformayor.com

· Drab, Charyl L. — P.O. Box 690087, Houston, TX 77269-0087

· Fitzsimmons, Michael J. — 4800 W. 34th St, Suite C-50L, Houston, TX 77092, Phone: 713.476.0733, Email:Houstonswp@att.net

· Hall, III, Benjamin L. — 530 Little John Lane, Houston, TX 77024, Phone: 713.236.4255, Email:team@benhallformayor.com

· Jenkins, Derek — 13600 Breton Ridge, Houston, TX 77070, Phone: 832.881.5451, Email:djenkins1326@yahoo.com

· Lane, Victoria A. — 6131 Stoney Brook Dr., Houston, TX 77036, Phone: 713.550.7899, Email:Victorialane53@yahoo.com

· Parker, Annise D. — P.O. Box 66513, Houston, TX 77266, Phone: 713.861.6464, Email:annise@anniseparker.com

DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER

DISTRICT A

· Brown, Helena — P.O. Box 430292, Houston, TX 77243, Phone: 280.919.3577, Email:helenabrowncampaign@gmail.com

· Hale, Ron — 6602 Underhill, Houston, TX 77092, Phone: 832.620.7909, Email: info@ronaldrayhale.com

· Knox, Mike — Phone: 713.973.6992, Email: mike@mikeknox.org

· Peck, Amy — P.O. Box 800240, Houston, TX 77280, Phone: 832.390.0117, Email: amy@amypeck.org

· Stardig, Brenda — P.O. Box 19822, Houston, TX 77224, Phone: 281.829.8583, Email: info@brendastardig.com

DISTRICT B

· Blueford-Daniels, Katherine — P.O. Box 1624, Houston, TX 77251, Phone: 713.594.5643, Email:mzkat@att.net

· Davis, Jerry — 5517 Pickfair, Houston, TX 77026, Phone: 832.860.1766, Email: jvd@jerryvdavis.com

· Perkins, Kenneth — 5714 Langley, Houston, TX 77016, Phone: 832.656.1062, Email: mrkrp@hotmail.com

DISTRICT C

· Cohen, Ellen

DISTRICT D

· Boykins, Dwight — 315 W. Alabama Street, Suite 103, Houston, TX 77006

· Caldwell, Keith — P.O. Box 331309, Houston, TX 77233, Phone: 281.330.7806, Email:kcaldwell081@gmail.com

· Edwards, Lana — P.O. Box 301118, Houston, TX 77230-1118, Phone: 713.203.1585, Email:lanacedwards@gmail.com

· Johnson, Ivis — Phone:832.606.9713

· McGee, Travis — 5747 Lakefield Drive, Houston, TX 77033, Phone: 832.488.7709, Email:mcgeetravis@sbcglobal.net

· McKinzie, Larry — P.O. Box 14608, Houston, TX 77221-4608, Phone: 713.900.8683, Email:campaign@larrymckinzie.com

· Provost, Georgia Doyle — 3821 N. MacGregor Way, Houton, TX 77004,Phone: 713.942.7374, Email:gdprovost@hotmail.com

· Richards, Nicole "Assata" — P.O. Box 58636, Houston, TX 77256, Phone: 832.722.0404, Email:arichards@assatarichards.com

· Robinson, Anthony — P.O. Box 331698, Houston, TX 77233, Phone: 713.777.8472, Email:robinson4districtd@gmail.com

· Sanders, Christina — P.O. Box 14390, Houston, TX 77221, Phone: 281.895.3350, Email:info@christinaforhouston.com

· Smith, Demetria — 7303 Calais Road, Houston, TX 77033, Phone: 832.883.7509, Email:dsmith9550@yahoo.com

· White, Kirk — 5514 Griggs Road, #2523, Houston, TX 77021, Phone: 713.575.7832, Email:theprezd@gmail.com

DISTRICT E

· Martin, Dave — 1 E. Greenway Plaza, Suite 225, Houston, TX 77046, Phone: 713.526.3399, FAX: 713.965.9076, Email: campaign@martinforhouston.com

DISTRICT F

· Hoang, Al — 801 Congress, #350, Houston, TX 77002, Phone: 281.788.8486, Email:alhoang77072@gmail.com

· Nguyen, Richard — 8115 Riptide Drive, Houston, TX 77072, Phone: 281.891.0579, Email:dandelion63@yahoo.com

DISTRICT G

· Pennington, Oliver — 4617 Montrose Blvd., Suite C202, Houston, TX 77006, Phone: 713.598.7809, Email:oopennington@gmail.com

· Taef, Brian — P.O. Box 820035, Houston, TX 77282, Phone: 713.422.3416, Email: brian@briantaef.com

DISTRICT H

· Gonzalez, Edward "Ed" — P.O. Box 70683, Houston,Tx,77270, Email:info@edforh.com

DISTRICT I

· Ablaza, Leticia Gutierrez — P.O. Box 262943, Houston, TX 77207, Email: info@voteablaza.com

· Gallegos, Robert — P.O. Box 230087, Houston, TX 77223, Email: info@voterobertgallegos.com

· Garces, Graci — P.O. Box 230103, Houston, TX 77223, Phone: 713.861.2244, Email: votegraci@gmail.com

· Mendez, Ben — 8427 Bonner Drive, Houston, TX 77017, Phone: 713.880.2626, Email:ben@benmendez4houston.com

DISTRICT J

· Laster, Mike — P.O. Box 36521, Houston, TX 77236, Phone: 713.510.3261, Email:lasterfordistrictj@yahoo.com

DISTRICT K

· Green, Larry V. — 2500 West Loop South, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77027, Email: attylgreen@aol.com

AT-LARGE COUNCIL MEMBER

POSITION 1

· Costello, Stephen C. — 2211 McDuffie St., Houston, TX 77019, Phone: 832.563.2113, Email:scostello@coseng.com

· Griffin, Mike "Griff" — 1925 Lexington, Houston, TX 77098, Phone: 713.526.7711, Email: mgriffin@kgriff.com

POSITION 2

· Burks Jr., Andrew C. — 315 Alabama, Suite 103, Houston,TX 77006, Phone: 832.426.4776, Email:burksforcitycouncil@gmail.com

· Gordon, Brent Trebor — 10907 Gulf Bridge Circle, Houston, TX 77075, Phone: 713.213.2215, Email:Trebor@gordon4houston.com

· Rivera-Colon, Modesto — 4630 Magnolia Cove #718, Kingwood,TX 77345, Phone: 713.732.7672, Email:Mod.rivera55@gmail.com

· Robinson, David — 2514 Elmen, Houston, TX 77019, Phone: 713.907.8241, Email: dwr@raworks.com

POSITION 3

· Batteau, J. Brad — 3408 Delano St. , Houston, TX 77004, Phone: 832.283.5471, Email:JBradBatteau@yahoo.com

· Calvert, Rogene Gee — 10850 Richmond Ave. Suite 100, Houston, TX 77042, Phone: 832.266.0561, Email:rogene@rogenecalvert.com

· Chavez, Roland M. — 313 Byrne St. , Houston, TX 77009, Phone: 713.864.4271, Email:Rochav341@gmail.com

· Kubosh, Michael — 1701 Lubbock, Houston, TX 77007, Phone: 281.594.7680, Email:michaelkubosh@gmail.com

· Morales, Roy — 2450 Louisiana, Suite 400-224, Houston, TX 77006, Phone: 713.320.8167, Email:info@roymorales.com

· Pool, Jenifer Rene — P.O. Box 572211, Houston, TX 77257, Phone: 832.689.9334, Email:jenifer@jeniferrenepool.com

POSITION 4

· Bradford, C.O. "Brad" — P.O. Box 321309, Houston, TX 77221, Phone: 713.882.0404, Email:info@cobradford.com

· Dadoush, Issa Z. — 5023 Bayfair, Pasadena, TX 77505, Phone: 713.782.0957, Email:issa.dadoush@sbcglobal.net

POSITION 5

· Christie, Jack — 12421 Memorial, Houston, TX 77024, Phone: 713.256.6445, Email: drjackchristie@yahoo.com

· Evans-Shabazz, Carolyn — P.O. Box 8482, Houston, TX 77004, Phone: 713.522.1523, Email:evansshabazzpal5@yahoo.com

· Horwitz, James S. — 4109 Caroline, Houston, TX 77004, Phone: 713.521.0373, Email: jhorwitzlaw@gmail.com

CONTROLLER

· Frazer, Bill — 5090 Richmond Avenue, #719, Houston, TX 77056, Phone: 713.429.1773, Email:bill@frazerforcontroller.com

· Green, Ronald — 3401 Louisiana, Suite 105, Houston, TX 77002, Phone: 713.526.0166, Email:attyrgreen@aol.com

Forbes says the ‘Stros are going to show a profit of $99 mil  this year – yikes!

Check it out here.

The ‘Stros say no way and here is what they said yesterday:

We are very disappointed that, earlier today, Forbes released an article that includes significant inaccuracies relating to the Astros’ finances. The Astros do not disclose financial information. However, as MLB will confirm, the information reported in the Forbes article relating to the Astros’ revenues, the Astros media rights fee from CSN Houston, and CSN Houston’s per subscriber rate are all significantly inaccurate. As a result, the conclusion about the Astros operational profit is significantly inaccurate.

The Astros will continue to operate the team in a fiscally responsible manner that will make the City of Houston proud. We are very excited about our accomplishments and we remain steadfast in our commitment to this rebuilding process. We have established a basis of young talent on our MLB roster that will continue to improve. And our minor league system is now one of the best in MLB. As our young prospects develop, we will move them up to the Major League roster and increase our payroll to a level that will allow the Astros to compete for World Championships. The success of CSN Houston is a vital piece of that process and we continue to work toward establishing full distribution.

I don’t know who to believe.

Here is what Rice’s Mark Jones says about the Lite Guv’s reelection chances:

"He’s moving from the range of running the risk of not attaining re-election, to not even making it into a runoff.  If I had to predict right now, I would say he doesn’t make the runoff."

I’m saying he doesn’t even make the race.

Last season the ‘Stros ended up with 146 dingers and ranked 21^st in MLB of course.

Last night’s game was a nail biter as Chris Carter racked up his 24^th and 25^th dingers of the season, two-time AL Player of the Week Jason Castro had his 18^th of the season and Matty D had his 19^th.  We won 10-8. 

 

Technorati Tags: Marc Campos,Campos Communications,Houston Elections,Houston Politics,Houston City Council Races,Houston Mayoral Race,Houston Astros,Major League Baseball,Texas Elections,Texas Politics

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A-Rat versus the World

He’s gone from A-Rod to A-Roid to A-Rat after he ratted out fellow MLBers on PEDs – allegedly – according to “60 Minutes.”

A-Rat’s lawyer was on “Today” this morning taking on MLB and the Yankees and the world.  Meanwhile Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster plunked A-Rat last night and A-Rat responded to the plunk with a dinger at Fenway. It looks like the only folks on A-Rat’s side are those that he pays.

Name the MLBer that said the following in February of 2009:

"A-Rod’s numbers shouldn’t count for anything.  I feel like he cheated me out of the game. It does bother me. Especially for the guys that went out there and did it on talent. We’re always going to have a cloud on us, and that’s not fair at all. The ones that have come out and admitted it, and are proven guilty, [their numbers] should not count. I’ve been cheated out of the game.  This is my ninth year, and I’ve done nothing to enhance my performance, other than work my butt off to get guys out. These guys [who took PEDs] have all the talent in the world. All-Star talent. And they put times two on it.  I’m going out there with the ability God gave me. They have that ability, too, and they’re putting something on top of it."

"The few times we played them, when he (A-Rat) got hits, it could have cost me a game. It could have cost me money in my contract. He cheated me out of the game and I take it personally, because I’ve never done [PEDs], haven’t done it, and they’re cheating me out of the game."

I am really enjoying this A-Rat versus MLB because there is really nothing to enjoy at The Yard other than a St. Arnold and maybe dollar dogs this Friday.

My friend Edgar says a PAC will be rolling out soon on saving the Dome.  I hope they do a better job at rolling it out than Early to Rise.

“Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie and her legs got a shout out last night on “The Newsroom.” 

The Chron E-Board agrees with the HISD Board about doing a review of the Apollo program.  Here is how today’s take starts:

There’s a reason that teachers don’t ask kids to grade their own research papers: It’s hard for anyone to spot his own mistakes.

For the same reason, we’re glad that the Houston Independent School District’s board recently voted to require an independent analysis of the district’s Apollo 20 program.

Here is the entire take.

am sure that Fryer fella from Harvard who helped put together Apollo is not happy with this.  Who cares? 

Former ‘Stro and now Royal Miguel Tejada was suspended for 105 games this past weekend for testing positive for amphetamines.  Back on February 11 of 2009, Tejada copped a guilty plea for fibbing to congressional investigators on PED use.  This what he said on 2/11/09:

"I apologize.  I know it was a mistake. I take responsibility. I am very sorry this happened. I’m sorry to my family, to Congress, to the Houston Astros and to the Major Leagues.  I apologize to the fans of baseball. I apologize to the whole United States, because this country gave me the opportunity to be who I am.  I am sorry for what just happened."

MLB will be going to extended replay next season.  That’s a bad idea.  It looks like the games are going to get longer.  Four hour games will be the new norm. 

Roy O. of course let A-Rat have it back in 2009.

The Yankees are trying to make the playoffs and they have to make up a lot of ground in the coming weeks.  The ‘Stros have to go 22-17 the rest of the way to avoid another 100 loss season.

 

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Outstanding!

I saw this tweet last night that kind of cracked me up during the Harris County Tejano Democrats (HCTD) endorsement meeting:

John C. Gorczynski ‏@JCGorczynski11h

I move the Harris County Tejano Democrats endorse @JJWatt for King of Htown.

It was an outstanding night last night for some of Commentary’s folks.  HISD Trustee Anna Eastman picked up the HCTD endorsement with the help of a lot of folks out in the crowd wearing her yellow stickers.  Anna’s eighth grader was there helping convince Tejano Dems to support her mom.

Graci Garces won out over two of her opponents and a motion to duel endorse.  Graci did it on one ballot – nice.   Graci had widespread support last night.

We managed to stop an endorsement in the HCC Trustee 3 race.

Folks pretty much got along last night although there was a bizarre moment when a Ben Mendez supporter got up and made a motion along the lines of “Sheriff Adrian Garcia nominates Ben Mendez.”  The sheriff was nowhere in sight – huh!

The Mayor was able to withstand a challenge from Ben Hall last night, quite handily may I add.

The Yankees have the record with most World Serious grand salamis with eight.  Name at least five of the Yankees?

In today’s Chron Lisa Falkenberg has a few questions about the details of Early to Rise.  Of course you have to have a subscription to read the Falkenberg take.  Here is a part:

Reasonable people, many of whom strongly back early education, are wary of a program about which they know little.

"While I appreciate the effort to increase access to high quality preschool," Houston Independent School District board president Anna Eastman told me, "when was the last time a self-appointed group of people said ‘we’re going to collect a tax and spend money on something that’s not clearly defined?’ "

If you ask me Early to Rise has done a terrible job of rolling out Early to Rise.

Here was a tweet that Commentary saw from my good pal Sue Davis a couple of days ago:

Sue Davis ‏@suedavis197414 Aug

Ben Hall whining about negative campaigning=laughable. Can’t stand the heat, get out of Oz. Click your heels 3 times, go home to Piney Point

Ouch!

If the local Dem Party wants to be useful, they ought to head over to Pasadena and help the Latino folks from a redistricting grab.  Check out the today’s Chron E-Board take:

After former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay‘s fall from grace, we thought that Texas politicians would know better than pursue mid-decade redistricting. Not so in Pasadena, where Mayor Johnny Isbell is trying to change Pasadena’s city council districts.

Isbell proposed last month to replace two of Pasadena’s single-member districts with two at-large seats. The Bond/Charter Review Committee recommended against moving forward with the changes, at least for the upcoming election. But the proposal alone is distressing enough. Historically, replacing districts with at-large seats has been used to discriminatory ends, and such moves are often blocked by the Department of Justice. Only a few months ago, that would have been the case here. Not anymore. For decades, the Voting Rights Act has been a useful speed bump in Texas. Due to our history of discrimination, any alteration to voting laws or processes had to be approved by the Department of Justice. When the Supreme Court struck down the part of the VRA that based preclearance requirements on past discrimination, it busted open a hole in that wall, and Texas politicians have wasted no time to climb through.

This newfound lack of federal oversight allows local politicians to implement maps that threaten to discriminate against minority voters. The current individual districts in Pasadena allow large, compact and politically cohesive minority populations to elect the representatives of their choice. Replacing these districts with at-large seats could dilute minority voting power, submerging the voting-bloc in a sea of majority voters.

As our Founding Fathers wrote in the Federalist Papers, our republic cannot function if the full spectrum of our nation’s diverse interests do not have representation in government. Decades of discrimination kept vast segments of society away from the table, and only now do we start to see representation rising to the ideals our nation was founded upon. That progress is brought to a halt when cities such as Pasadena make it more difficult for a growing Hispanic population to take part in the democratic process.

Even with the removal of direct barriers to voter registration, historic discrimination in education, housing, employment and health services hinders minority ability to participate effectively in the political process and elect representatives of their choice. Pasadena’s city government makes this point painfully clear – Hispanics comprise a majority of the voting-age population, and a majority of a voting-age population in six of the eight city council districts, but have yet to turn that into electoral success.

Anyone who cares about functioning government should be troubled by such a disconnect between population and representation.

Tony Lazzeri (1936), Gil McDougald (1951), Mickey Mantle (1953), Yogi Berra (1956), Moose Skowron (1956), Bobby Richardson (1960), Joe Pepitone (1964), and Tino Martinez (1998) are the eight Yankees of course with World Serious grand salamis.

We would have to go 24-18 the rest of the way to avoid another 100 loss season.

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